Top police officers among 160 eyeing George Kinoti's DCI job

Former DCI boss George Kinoti. [File, Standard]

More than 160 Kenyans have applied to succeed George Kinoti as the Director of the Criminal Investigations.

Senior police officers are among those interested in the job.

They include Senior Assistant Inspector-General of Police King'ori Mwangi, DCI Head of Planning Nicholas Kamwende and Railways DCI boss Wanderi Mwangi.

Applications, which were accepted between September 29 and October 6, have since closed.

Nyale Munga, the principal deputy of immediate former Inspector-General of Police Hillary Mutyambai, is also among the 160-plus Kenyans interested in the DCI director post.

Eliud Kinuthia, the chairperson of the National Police Service Commission, told The Standard that efforts are ongoing to expedite the hiring.

"Once we shortlist the successful applicants, we'll let you know their profiles and names," he said.

Besides police officers, seasoned lawyers and civil society members are among those who have applied for the position.

Kinoti exited the DCI on September 27, 2022.

He had been appointed the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) boss in January 2018 during President Uhuru Kenyatta's second term.

After a four-year stay at the helm of the investigative agency, he exited under a cloud of disapproval by President William Ruto, who accused him of weaponising the war on graft and other crimes, especially during the run-up to the August 9, 2022 General Election.

Dr Ruto accused Kinoti of targeting leaders who were affiliated to him and opposed to Raila Odinga's presidential bid.

Odinga, the first runner-up in the presidential election, was Ruto's main rival in the Kenyatta-succession contest.

Kinoti served as Kenya's 11th DCI director, taking over from Ndegwa Muhoro, who had been at the helm of DCI for eight years, between 2010 and 2018.

According to the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC), the DCI chief earns a basic salary of Sh372,750, a House Allowance of Sh100,000 and a Salary Market Adjustment of Sh148,400, bringing the total gross monthly salary to Sh621,250.

The immediate former DCI director, Kinoti, has since been absorbed by the Public Service Commission (PSC). His assignment area remains unrevealed.

Prior to his rise to DCI director, George Kinoti was the Director of Corporate Communications at the National Police Service.